03.01.10
In the largest national survey of its kind, researchers from UCLA and UC San Diego measured medical students’ attitudes and beliefs about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and found that three-quarters of them felt conventional Western medicine would benefit by integrating more CAM therapies and ideas. The findings were published in the online issue of Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (eCAM) in January.
“Complementary and alternative medicine is receiving increased attention in light of the global health crisis and the significant role of traditional medicine in meeting public health needs in developing countries,” said study author Ryan Abbott, a researcher at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. “Integrating CAM into mainstream healthcare is now a global phenomenon, with policy makers at the highest levels endorsing the importance of a historically marginalized form of healthcare.”
“Even with the high prevalence of CAM use today, most physicians still know little about non-conventional forms of medicine,” said study author Michael Goldstein, PhD, a senior research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and professor of Public Health and Sociology. “Investigating medical students’ attitudes and knowledge will help us assess whether this may change in the future.”
Researchers found that although medical students endorsed the importance of CAM, obstacles remain that may prevent future doctors from recommending these treatments in their practices. According to the findings:
• 77% of participants agreed to some extent that patients whose doctors know about complementary and alternative medicine, in addition to conventional medicine, benefit more than those whose doctors are only familiar with Western medicine.
• 74% of participants agreed to some extent that a system of medicine that integrates therapies of conventional and complementary and alternative medicine would be more effective than either type of medicine provided independently.
• 84% of participants agreed to some extent that the field contains beliefs, ideas and therapies from which conventional medicine could benefit.
• 49% of participating medical students indicated that they have used CAM treatments, however, few would recommend or use these treatments in their practice until more scientific assessment has occurred.
“Our research suggests that persuading doctors to integrate CAM will require investment in the types of clinical research that form the backbone of Western medicine,” added Mr. Abbott. “Even now, medical schools have the opportunity to train the next generation of medical practitioners in healthcare systems outside of conventional medicine. Core values of CAM can help students develop a more holistic and individualized approach to patient care.”
The study also found that the further along in school the student was, the more likely they were to believe their learning regarding CAM therapies was sufficient. Still, researchers note that more than 60% of participants favored more education related to this field during their time in medical school.
Although more than half of all U.S. medical schools currently offer some type of CAM course, researchers say these courses could be augmented or streamlined into more formal, standardized curricula.
“Complementary and alternative medicine is receiving increased attention in light of the global health crisis and the significant role of traditional medicine in meeting public health needs in developing countries,” said study author Ryan Abbott, a researcher at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine. “Integrating CAM into mainstream healthcare is now a global phenomenon, with policy makers at the highest levels endorsing the importance of a historically marginalized form of healthcare.”
“Even with the high prevalence of CAM use today, most physicians still know little about non-conventional forms of medicine,” said study author Michael Goldstein, PhD, a senior research scientist at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and professor of Public Health and Sociology. “Investigating medical students’ attitudes and knowledge will help us assess whether this may change in the future.”
Researchers found that although medical students endorsed the importance of CAM, obstacles remain that may prevent future doctors from recommending these treatments in their practices. According to the findings:
• 77% of participants agreed to some extent that patients whose doctors know about complementary and alternative medicine, in addition to conventional medicine, benefit more than those whose doctors are only familiar with Western medicine.
• 74% of participants agreed to some extent that a system of medicine that integrates therapies of conventional and complementary and alternative medicine would be more effective than either type of medicine provided independently.
• 84% of participants agreed to some extent that the field contains beliefs, ideas and therapies from which conventional medicine could benefit.
• 49% of participating medical students indicated that they have used CAM treatments, however, few would recommend or use these treatments in their practice until more scientific assessment has occurred.
“Our research suggests that persuading doctors to integrate CAM will require investment in the types of clinical research that form the backbone of Western medicine,” added Mr. Abbott. “Even now, medical schools have the opportunity to train the next generation of medical practitioners in healthcare systems outside of conventional medicine. Core values of CAM can help students develop a more holistic and individualized approach to patient care.”
The study also found that the further along in school the student was, the more likely they were to believe their learning regarding CAM therapies was sufficient. Still, researchers note that more than 60% of participants favored more education related to this field during their time in medical school.
Although more than half of all U.S. medical schools currently offer some type of CAM course, researchers say these courses could be augmented or streamlined into more formal, standardized curricula.
